Creighton Post Game Thread

[gsmooth]

If they ever implemented this, it would go the way of the pass interference reviews in the NFL. Refs would make it immediately and very clear that they would refuse to overturn anything with that much judgment and admit fault.

That's exactly what the NFL refs did. Even on the most blatant PIs, they refused to overturn the calls to call PI

 

[UConNick]

After Liam got hurt the 2/1 game with Marquette emerged as the one we needed him back for and also matched with up the timeline.

In the seven games before then, I thought 5-2 was a reasonable goal. HAD/HAVE to win the three home games against PC, Butler, and DePaul. Then find a way to split the four others (@ Nova, @ Gtown, vs Crei, @ X). We’re 1-2 in that grouping (and obviously still have Butler and DePaul, too). What really hurts is that 3-0 on those is maybe five free throws away, but I digress.

Now, go take care of Butler on Tuesday. But be ready for Xavier. It’s a raucous crowd. They’ll have Freemantle back. But if we win that and take care of business in those other two home contests, we’re 16-5 going into the Marquette game and at that point I think still have all of our goals in front of us. Anyone writing off the season or even using the word “bubble” right now is out of their minds. Let’s see where we are seven days from now. It’s all still there for us.

 

[PlayItLeo]

I simply cannot watch Stewart and Ball be on the court at the same time anymore. According to Evan Miya, they're both bottom-10 defenders in the Big East (min. 200 possessions) even after Stewart played well vs. Dixon at Villanova.

 

[superjohn]

I'm just going to point out some positives, because the negatives were covered.

Stewart is making himself out to be a legit 6th-man wing.

We wondered if Solo's 45%+ shooting was going to be an early season anomaly. It was not.

Samson is really getting comfortable in his role on offense. Finally passing the ball well.

We knew Solo was an amazing shooter but he's showing more and more offensively each game. Now the defense has to be fixed.

With McNeeley back we will have two primary options to go to when we need a bucket late in McNeeley and Ball. It should be three with Reed. Hass and Jaylin can also do it in a pinch. AK isn't that guy unless it's an open three or a cut for a layup, Hurley needs to get that through his head.

 

[jibsey]

Without McNeeley, we're just not all that great.

Can't take 20 minutes off and win.

But actually with McNeeley we could be great. It goes beyond the numbers and points even by making other players better. Don’t lose sight of that.

 

[freshler40]

We shouldn't put ourselves in position to need the refs help. You can't put yourself down 7 then down 7 again.

The high hedge played against a great passing point guard to serious big was questionable in this game. Seems like our scouting plan could have been tightened up.

 

[Hi-Low]

Some people here have no concept of what it actually means to be on the bubble

True but toughest BE games are still to come so UConn can rise or fall rapidly, this is the "easy" part of the schedule.

Starting with next weekend at X the schedule gets much tougher the rest of the way. I think once Liam gets back we'll be fine but hopefully that's sooner than later.

 

[Glastonhusky]

Yeah he’s not a first rounder as many have claimed. Love the guy but his stock was highest last spring.

Love Alex, but I didn't want him taking that last shot. He hadn't hit a 3 all day and he had Solo to his left with about 3 seconds still to go.

 

[husky429]

I may ask for the moon. But he could be a game changer for us if he can shoot that 12-15 footer at free throw area. It's there all the time and he can do it.

The reason why it's there and Hurley isn't encouraging him to take that shot is likely because he CAN'T do it right now. Our coach is going to discourage a player like that if it's in the bag

 

[IndyLives]

Yeah he’s not a first rounder as many have claimed. Love the guy but his stock was highest last spring.

Ufort., and that wasnt good enough to get drafted. He simply lacks the quickness & athleticism that NBA teams want. Shooting is not good enough to make up for it.

 

[metsfan2323]

Can you imagine if Diarra's shot went in to tie the game, that crooked crew would have waived it off.

 

[AntG168]

Hurley is a fast learner. I hope after this season he never again assembles a roster this void of shot creation. It’s too reliant on sets and very easy to game plan against for the elite coaches. Guys like Newton and Spencer could get you a bucket. Right now that guy hasn’t emerged for us. Losing Liam made it even more alarming.

 

[jibsey]

AK does a lot of great things usually but.., driving to the rim ain’t one of them.

 

[UCfor3]

The awful refs are baked into it for me at this point. Have to know that if the game is close, there is a decent probability that you might get boned. It's like leaving it up to the judges in boxing or MMA.

 

[Bomber36]

No. A bad AK cost us this game today

No, bad defense cost us the game today.

 

[Waquoit]

63 points ain't gonna get it done.

I agree. The D can't be expected to hold them to 61.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Hurley is a fast learner. I hope after this season he never again assembles a roster this void of shot creation. It’s too reliant on sets and very easy to game plan against for the elite coaches. Guys like Newton and Spencer could get you a bucket. Right now that guy hasn’t emerged for us. Losing Liam made it even more alarming.

We have way too many players afraid of seeking out contact. Our huge foul disparity is a reflection more of our collection of spot shooter players, not the refs.

 

[Old blue]

We have no killers on the court today. Creigton wanted it more.

 

[Scoe]

Gotta give Creighton credit and I'm just gonna get it out of the way and already congratulate them for already winning the next matchup in Omaha.

 

[navery12]

We knew Solo was an amazing shooter but he's showing more and more offensively each game. Now the defense has to be fixed.

With McNeeley back we will have two primary options to go to when we need a bucket late in McNeeley and Ball. It should be three with Reed. Hass and Jaylin can also do it in a pinch. AK isn't that guy unless it's an open three or a cut for a layup, Hurley needs to get that through his head.

With McNeeley back we'll also have 2 guys who the defense has to key on which makes it a lot tougher to defend. Right now everyone knows we want to get the ball to Ball when we need a 3, and it's been impossible to get him open. Hopefully that changes with McNeeley back

 

[August_West]

We need to get out of the Big East, pronto


The conference rigs the games.

Refs are instructed how to manipulate outcomes.

There is no other explanation.

That’s absolutely ridiculous. I didn’t see that at all. We got beat by a disciplined , well coached team with 2 29 year olds who make very few mistakes. They were simply a better team than us today, they executed better, and didn’t blink.
The reality of the situation is at this point of the season and without McNeeley we are simply a good team. Just a good team. Not a great team. There are some glaring issues that keep us from being a great team at this point.

I don’t think we played poorly today , we played pretty well actually and didn’t lay an egg. This is just simply who we are right now. Would’ve been nice to find a way to hold serve at home as that is real important in the league race.

We have a great coaching staff and coachable players, but we just are not a good defensive team individually . That isn’t breaking news , we know that. We simply can’t get stops when stops are needed. This in turn puts serious pressure on our fantastic offense, when you can’t get stops you pretty much can’t afford empty trips, and the game was in the balance when we missed floater after floater when Alex hurt the ankle. Really our season is going to hinge on our floater conversion rate as that is what every team is going to give us.

Right now we are no different than Creighton , St John’s and Nova. And we’ve lost to 2 of them .

This is Marquettes regular season to lose.

We will see what kind of bump we get when we get Liam back. It will be needed. But there are a lot of areas where at this point we just are what we are. A good team vying for position in top 3rd of league.

 

[dennismenace]

Solo continuously failed to defend Neal in the first half. He had 17 pts in the first half. No adj made by DH until the second half. We never really recovered though Solo hit a lot of nice shots throughout the game.

We have a lot of weaknesses which opposing coaches are quick to exploit. Some bright spots but we have a long, long way to go. Liam will help.

Inconsistent and hesitant. Not sure exactly why but they need to know that they don't have the luxury of playing less than 40 minutes full throttle against a good team like Creighton.

 

[UCfor3]

Hurley is a fast learner. I hope after this season he never again assembles a roster this void of shot creation. It’s too reliant on sets and very easy to game plan against for the elite coaches. Guys like Newton and Spencer could get you a bucket. Right now that guy hasn’t emerged for us. Losing Liam made it even more alarming.

Totally agree. Also a no no to have two guards that are bad at defense. Can't play them together for stretches against most teams. Can sometimes hide one, not two.

 

[freshler40]

I may ask for the moon. But he could be a game changer for us if he can shoot that 12-15 footer at free throw area. It's there all the time and he can do it.

Our offense seems stuck on two or three players and a long shot clock to find these players.

 

[AntG168]

That’s absolutely ridiculous. I didn’t see that at all. We got beat by a disciplined , well coached team with 2 29 year olds who make very few mistakes. They were simply a better team than us today, they executed better, and didn’t blink.
The reality of the situation is at this point of the season and without McNeeley we are simply a good team. Just a good team. Not a great team. There are some glaring issues that keep us from being a great team at this point.

I don’t think we played poorly today , we played pretty well actually and didn’t lay an egg. This is just simply who we are right now. Would’ve been nice to find a way to hold serve at home as that is real important in the league race.

We have a great coaching staff and coachable players, but we just are not a good defensive team individually . That isn’t breaking news , we know that. We simply can’t get stops when stops are needed. This in turn puts serious pressure on our fantastic offense, when you can’t get stops you pretty much can’t afford empty trips, and the game was in the balance when we missed floater after floater when Alex hurt the ankle. Really our season is going to hinge on our floater conversion rate as that is what every team is going to give us.

Right now we are no different than Creighton , St John’s and Nova. And we’ve lost to 2 of them .

This is Marquettes regular season to lose.

We will see what kind of bump we get when we get Liam back. It will be needed. But there are a lot of areas where at this point we just are what we are. A good team vying for position in top 3rd of league.

This is btw not a bad place to be after back to back titles. Perspective.